In a startling disclosure, Senator Afnanullah informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior that the complete and updated personal data of nearly 240 million Pakistani citizens is allegedly available for sale on the dark web.
Addressing the committee, the senator warned that the data being traded is so recent and detailed that even some national institutions may not possess records of similar accuracy. He described the situation as alarming and dangerous for both national security and individual privacy.
According to Senator Afnanullah, the leaked information appears to include data sourced from key institutions such as NADRA, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and several banks. These details have reportedly been compiled into full digital profiles of citizens.
He told the committee that individual records are being sold for as little as Rs500, while the complete national dataset could be worth between Rs70 billion and Rs80 billion on the dark web. The low price of individual data, he said, makes misuse even more likely.
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The senator stressed that a breach of this scale could not have happened without internal involvement. He suggested that employees within sensitive institutions may have played a role in facilitating or enabling the leak.
Calling for urgent action, Senator Afnanullah urged authorities to immediately investigate the matter and secure national data repositories. He warned that the exposure of citizens’ data on the dark web poses severe risks, including identity theft, financial fraud, and threats to national security.
The committee was told that failure to act swiftly could further erode public trust in state institutions responsible for safeguarding sensitive information.